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Today is the Saturday before Christmas. Tomorrow is the Fourth Sunday of Advent, as we continue to prepare our hearts and minds for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
These two scripture texts for today talk about birth and life, as well as eternal life.
I am thinking today about many, many families who will be without their loved ones at this Christmastime for a variety of reasons. Quite a few families have lost loved ones to death this year. In the midst of the pandemic, death was especially difficult for these families because they could not even be with their loved ones at the hospital or at a congregate-care facility.
In the midst of missing loved ones, we do indeed need to think about the promise of heaven and we need to rejoice that their names are written in heaven. Those folks are looking down at us from above and are smiling and are happy for us.
Many of you know the hymn, "Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers" which I want to share today. Pay particular attention to the third and fourth stanzas of this hymn:
Rejoice, rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear;
the evening is advancing, and darker night is near.
The bridegroom is arising and soon is drawing nigh.
Up, pray and watch and wrestle; at midnight comes the cry.
The watchers on the mountain proclaim the bridegroom near;
go forth as he approaches with alleluias clear.
The marriage feast is waiting; the gates wide open stand.
Arise, O heirs of glory; the bridegroom is at hand.
The saints, who here in patience their cross and sufferings bore,
shall live and reign forever when sorrow is no more.
Around the throne of glory the Lamb they shall behold;
in triumph cast before him their diadems of gold.
Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear;
arise, O Sun, so longed for, o'er this benighted sphere.
With hearts and hands uplifted, we plead, O Lord, to see
the day of earth's redemption that sets your people free!
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